Functional Safety Engineer

We are seeking a Functional Safety Engineer to ensure the safe design, integration, and operation of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and other safety-related controls within water, biogas, and anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities.  

What you'll do

Working across the full project lifecycle - from concept design through commissioning and operation - you will lead and support safety integrity level (SIL) compliance, hazard identification, and risk reduction strategies, collaborating with internal teams and external partners to deliver inherently safe and reliable facilities.

This role is critical in maintaining compliance with functional safety standards such as IEC 61508 and IEC 61511, as well as UK regulations including COMAH and DSEAR.

Other key responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• the implementation and maintenance of the Functional Safety Management System (FSMS) in line with company and regulatory requirements
• defining and verifying Safety Instrumented Functions (SIFs), including SIL determination and validation
• developing and maintaining Safety Requirements Specifications (SRS) with full traceability to process hazards and risk reduction measures
• facilitating hazard identification and risk assessment studies (HAZID, HAZOP, LOPA, FMEA, FTA)
• supporting specification, design, verification, and validation of SIS and associated control systems
• providing functional safety input across all project stages, including concept design, FEED, detailed design, and commissioning
• reviewing and approving safety-related documentation (P&IDs, cause & effect diagrams, control philosophies, logic diagrams)
• promoting a strong functional safety culture through training, mentoring, and participation in design reviews and audits.

What you'll need

The essential requirements for this role include:

• a degree in Electrical, Control, Chemical, or Process Engineering (or related discipline) 
• proven experience in functional safety engineering, ideally within water, biogas, or other high-hazard industries 
• proven experience applying IEC 61511 and managing the full safety lifecycle 
• experience with hazard studies (HAZOP, LOPA, SIL determination) 
• familiarity with COMAH, DSEAR, and ATEX regulations 
• proficiency in safety software tools (e.g., PHAST, BowTieXP, PHA-Pro, SILver) 
• strong communication, documentation, and stakeholder engagement skills. 

The requirements below are desirable, but not essential: 

• a TÜV Functional Safety Engineer certification (or equivalent) 
• to be a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or be working towards professional registration 
• experience with SCADA, PLC, and DCS systems in safety-critical applications 
• knowledge of environmental and sustainability considerations in functional safety design.

What you'll receive

• A combined pension contribution of up to 20%.
• Career progression and professional development opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service.
• The opportunity to sell up to five days of holiday every year.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days of holiday each year (subject to conditions).
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• Access to an interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from trained mental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone who is successfully recruited by us. 

Who we are 

YTL UK is part of the international YTL Group based in Kuala Lumpur. The UK companies include: 

• Wessex Water – one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9 million people across the South West 
• YTL Developments – a major UK developer currently redeveloping a 350-acre former airfield into an award-winning, exciting mix of houses, apartments, schools, commercial space, restaurants and hotels, to make a truly sustainable new community 
• YTL Construction UK – a top 20 UK contractor providing fully integrated services to infrastructure, residential, commercial, industry, energy and environmental sectors 
• YTL Arena – the development and operation of an entertainment complex that includes a 20,000 capacity arena, conferencing and exhibition space 
• plus a number of other retail, environmental and specialist businesses. 

Our people tell us that YTL UK is a great place to work, which is why so many of them stay with us! You will have a unique opportunity to develop and progress your career within such a diverse group. 

We are passionate about diversity and inclusion – with that in mind, all applicants are welcome. We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer. 

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please inform a member of our Recruitment team.